Scholarships
100+ Unique Scholarships, Just ONE Application!
Applying for scholarships from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is easier than ever!
There is just one application and one deadline: the application opens on December 1st and closes February 1st, every year.
Access the CFNIL Scholarship Application Portal
Need help getting started? Visit our Scholarship Resources page to learn how to apply!
CFNIL’s scholarship funds were created by donors that recognize the importance of helping students achieve their educational goals, now and in perpetuity. The funds’ creators selected the criteria based on their interests and the community’s need. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the life and passions of individuals.
The diversity of scholarship offerings reflects the diversity of CFNIL’s donors and the communities it serves. The majority of scholarships are for current college students and graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties. Scholarships are available based on a variety of factors: community engagement; academic achievement; financial need; athletic participation; field of study; and many more. There are scholarships for non-traditional, minority, and first-generation college students. Nearly two dozen scholarships are available for students who have a high school diploma OR a GED — learn more on the Scholarship Resource page.
The applications are read and scored by committees of volunteers who use a “blind” review process and make recommendations to CFNIL’s Board of Trustees. Scholarship recipients are announced in late April. Awards are sent directly to the recipient’s post-secondary institution.
While the majority of the scholarship funds CFNIL administers are included in the application for the main scholarship cycle (open Dec. 1 – Feb 1 each year), several additional scholarships run on a different timeline or are administered by outside organizations. Each scholarship listed below indicates whether it is "Open" or "Closed" for applications; click on the scholarship name to learn more about the criteria and other eligibility details.
Questions? Need help getting started? Contact Heather!
